performance air filters

[freddiebrown]

is it worth buying a replacement panel sports air filter for my saab 93 aero 02?

[phoenix]

In short, no.

The OEM paper filter performs very well and doesn't impose a significant restriction until you go above 300hp. You may however notice a very slight reduction in turbo spool.

Not worth it IMO especially when you consider that most won't do as good a job as the paper one of filtering.

[Saabman]

Also with an oiled filter you run the risk of oil particle's ruining your air flow sensor 

[freddiebrown]

so in short just leave the standard filter on if you dont want to cause problems.

[Saabman]

£40-50-60 filter that you have to remove, clean, and then re-oil (at a cost) once a year if not more often? I ran a Stage 4 9-5 on a standard filter in the end and think I must have lost at least 2bhp 

[antonyn]

If you want to convince yourself - do an acceleration trial on a straight road, then do the same run without the airfilter connected.

I bet you can't measure the difference (assuming you change your element regularly and haven't let it block up)

Antony.